“4.3”

Hi everyone, my name is Donovan, I am sharing here the official response I received from Apple following my appeal with App Review Board (image attached). For context, I am an independent developer and a student, working alone. This application was originally created as a student project, with a very simple goal: to improve my skills in mobile application development and to understand the entire creation cycle, from the initial idea to a genuinely usable application. What was meant to be an exercise gradually became a real product. Over time, many people tested the project, used it, provided positive feedback, and encouraged me to take it all the way. That is why I decided to continue it, structure it properly, and finalize it with the level of seriousness expected from a public-facing application. Today, the application is a dating and social connection app, entirely free, with no blocking paid features, funded only by light and optional advertising. It follows the rules, works correctly, and offers features

Hello everyone, My app has been rejected under guideline 4.3(a) – Design – Spam. It is a padel sports-tracking app with: – Bluetooth sensor connection – live session tracking – AI-generated coaching feedback – community feed and notifications – video analysis features The review states that my app “shares a similar binary, metadata and/or concept as other apps with only minor differences”. However, this app is fully custom developed, not generated from any template, and not a reskinned clone. It is part of a larger project including custom hardware sensors and backend. I would like to better understand what exactly triggered the rejection: – Is it the design? – A specific feature? – The metadata / screenshots? – Or similarity detection with another app name or concept? My goal is to comply fully with Apple guidelines and improve the app if needed, but I need more concrete direction to do so. Any guidance from Apple engineers or other developers who have faced 4.3(a) would be appreciated. Tha

Our Application [7 Dawns: Echoes] was recently rejected by the App Store for Guideline 4.3 Apple ID:6753892922 Bundle ID:com.ark.jylhgl.ios Change of Operating Entity Our company, has obtained exclusive global operating rights (excluding Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and certain regions of South Korea) from the copyright owner. The previous distributor’s version, Eternal Sword M (App ID 1369681345, Bundle ID com.emagroups.ea2), has been fully removed from the App Store. Our cooperation with them officially ended on December 29, 2023. New Version Updates This submission is not a duplicate, but a newly operated and updated version. We introduced new gameplay systems (7-day seasonal competitive mode, team-based PvP, dispatch and multi-pet strategy systems), optimized monetization and in-game economy, and improved performance and UI (including redesigned app icon and key interfaces). Evidence Submitted We have provided the Operating Authorization Letter and Software Copyright Certificate via

Hello everyone, I’m looking for advice from developers who may have faced a similar situation, as we appear to be stuck in a long-running loop of Guideline 4.3(a) rejections on iOS with no actionable feedback from App Review. Over an extended period, our iOS app has been repeatedly rejected under Guideline 4.3(a) (“similar or repackaged”), regardless of the changes we make. The responses from App Review consistently use the same high-level language and do not indicate what specifically is considered problematic. Some relevant context: The app is built with Flutter using a single shared codebase. The macOS version, built from the same codebase with the same overall structure and UI, has been approved without issues. The iOS version, using that same implementation, continues to receive 4.3(a) rejections. We do not use purchased templates and do not operate multiple developer accounts. Like most apps, we use some third-party and open-source components where technically appropriate. Acr

Hello, I’m looking for advice from developers who may have encountered similar App Review situations. I have an iOS game (“Next Run Game”), a fantasy roguelike RPG. App version 1.0.13 was reviewed and approved by App Review, but it was not released publicly on the App Store. Later, I submitted version 1.0.14. This update contained only minor changes: small balance tweaks bug fixes localization text fixes No changes were made to metadata or presentation: app name icon screenshots description branding overall concept After submitting version 1.0.14, the app began to be rejected under: Guideline 4.3 (Spam) later also Guideline 4.1 (Copycats) The review messages are generic and state that the app or its metadata “appears to be misrepresenting itself as another popular app,” but no specific example, reference app, or concrete issue has been provided. What is confusing to me: The same app (version 1.0.13) was previously approved by App Review. Metadata did not change between the approved and rejected submi

Hello everyone, I’ll be honest with you, the kind of honesty that comes when you’ve run out of places to turn. My name is Donovan, I’m a French student, and I’m writing here because at this point, I truly don’t know what else to do Two years ago, I started a small project to learn mobile development. Nothing ambitious at first just a personal exercise, a way to grow. But after countless late nights, weekends sacrificed, and lines of code no one will ever see… that small project became a real application. I finished it. Refined it. Carried it like something that genuinely mattered. And for the past two months, I’ve been fighting with App Review. Always for the same reason: Guideline 4.3(b) – Design – Spam. Each time, I respond. Each time, I explain. But each time, the door closes with the same cold, impersonal message: “We encourage you to reconsider your app concept and submit a new app that provides a unique experience not already found on the App Store.” Unique. Such an easy word to use… especially

Pls any idea or guide on how i can go about to resolve this, an app review feedback. Review Environment Submission ID: 43e31418-c37f-4b26-9bec-f88d749a70be Review date: November 27, 2025 Version reviewed: 1.0 Guideline 4.3(a) - Design - Spam This app duplicates the content and functionality of other apps on the App Store, which is considered a form of spam. Specifically, this app appears to be identical to apps already submitted to the App Store from other developers. Apps that duplicate content or functionality create clutter, diminish the overall experience for the end user, and reduce the ability of developers to market their apps. Next Steps It would be appropriate to revise your app to provide a unique experience or submit a new app that does not duplicate the content and functionality of other apps on the App Store. Resources Some factors that contribute to a spam rejection may include: Submitting an app with the same source code or assets as other apps already submitted to the App Store Creati

Hello, I’m contacting you for assistance regarding an App Review issue that our company is currently facing. Background Several months ago, a former employee submitted an early prototype of our app using his personal Apple Developer account. That submission was never approved, and after the employee left the company, he removed the app from his account. It is no longer available on the App Store and no longer listed under that account. Recently, we rebuilt the product completely — new UI, new codebase, and a fully updated design — and submitted it under our company’s official Apple Developer account. Issue Our recent submission was rejected with 4.3 – Spam, indicating that our app is considered a duplicate of another existing app. However, the only similar app is the old prototype submitted several months ago by the former employee, which was removed and never published. It seems likely that our submission is being linked to that previous prototype, even though it no longer exists and was submitted u

I have invested significant money building a proximity application that shows hotspots for nightlife, and also if there are other single people in the same vicinity. I have labeled it under Social Networking, but the app reviews have labeled me as a dating app and hit me with the 4.3 spam tag. My app has many unique features that don't exist with other apps, but because of the matching part of the app, I am SOL. I am waiting on an appeal, but based on what I have read, I will most likely be doomed. Talk about killing the American Dream and stifling innovation! What are my options? If I get 10K users testing it on Test Flight, will I have a better chance of getting approved? Has anyone been successful by offering an app through a developer's website?

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I’m opening this discussion because we’ve encountered a repeated Guideline 4.3 rejection for an update, despite having previously addressed the same concern with the App Review team and reaching a resolution. Several weeks ago, we went through a detailed review process regarding Guideline 4.3. We provided full technical explanations, clarified our development structure, redesigned parts of the UI, and made all adjustments requested by the App Review team. That update was ultimately approved, and the app has been live on the App Store since then without any issues. However, our new submission—which includes only a critical bug fix—is now being rejected again for the same 4.3 reason. No changes have been made to the concept, design, or core functionality since the previously approved version. The update is not introducing new features or new UI; it simply resolves a performance bug affecting downloads and uploads, which users are already

Hi! My app was rejected on Nov 4 due to 4.3 Design Spam. After communicating with the App Review team on Nov 4, the decision was still the same, so I submitted an appeal to the App Review Board that day. They mentioned there are apps that are providing the same functionalities but I have done my research on App Store and reached out to potential users in London to gauge the interest. I believe my app and its direction is unique. I still haven’t received any update and I totally understand that the appeals process can take some time. It's just that I am really passionate about getting this app into the public to get people on it and I have no idea on what is wrong and how I can help make it right. Does anyone know how long it usually takes to get a response from the App Review Board? Thank you for any help!

I’ve been rejected four times recently with the reason 4.3 – Design / Spam. I’ve explained the issue in great detail each time, but I haven’t received any meaningful response from Apple’s reviewers. Each time, I tried to make my explanation even clearer, yet the replies I got were identical copy-paste messages, offering no additional guidance, clarification, or genuine support for developers like us. What’s unreasonable is that our latest updates only fixed minor AdMob-related issues — there were no functional or design changes to the app — and yet the app was still rejected without a valid reason. Our app has been on the App Store for 8 years, has tens of thousands of users, and has consistently received high ratings for the value it provides. I’ve already submitted an appeal to the App Review Board, but I haven’t received any confirmation email or notification acknowledging receipt or giving any timeline for resolution. We have already submitted an appeal to the App Review Board, but so far we have

My app is completely unique, no other app has the main functionality of my app, and it was not bought template and coded from scratch. It uses Supabase for the backend, for context. I have no idea what to do, I just spoke with a review team member, and he kept saying the same thing, that he's seen similar apps, which when i clarified what the app did he just said that it could be a bought template which was used in fraud, and genuinely did not want to talk about the app so he basically cut the review shortly. I spent a month of my life on this app. I have no idea what to do. It does use Supercell images such as figures, but it follows all the Supercell Fan Content Policy guidelines.